Wheel supported crutch



April 20, 1937. T. F. KISH WHEEL SUPPORTED CRUTCH Filed Dec. 4, 1934- 2Sheets-Sheet 1 T. F. KISH WHEE-L SUPPORTED CRUTCH Filed Dec. 4, 1934 2Sheets-Sheet 2 April 20, 1937.

Patented Apr. 20. 1937 I UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE My inventionrelates to supporting devices for assisting invalids and others inwalking and has for its primary purpose the provision of a mobilesupporting device which has a pair of adjustable crutch members upwardlyextending from a base frame. Trunnion wheels are disposed at each cornerof the frame. A cushioning device is associated with each of thetrunnion wheels. The crutch members are adjustable transversely at theirtop ends to accommodate users of different widths and the height of thecrutch saddles and of the hand stirrups associated therewith areadjustable vertically relative to the crutch members to accommodateusers of different heights. v

One of the objects of my invention consists in providing a device thatmay be used by invalids and others and through the use of which they maypropel themselves with facility and with minimum effort.

A still further object of my invention consists in so arranging thecrutch elements that the users may readily adjust the same to theirrespective heights, arm lengths and chest widths.

A still further object of my invention consists in providing a trunnionsupport that may be adjusted to effect a cushioning of the device whilein use, thereby eliminating nerve shock incident to the use of ordinarycrutches.

A still further object of my invention consists in providing optionaland selective means for retarding the progression of my device, therebyrendering its use free from obvious objections.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention consists incertain novel features of construction and combination of parts, theessential elements of which are set forth in the appended claims, and apreferred form of embodiment of which is hereinafter shown withreference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of thisspecification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the assembled device.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the assembled device.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional side view of the comer of the frameand of the trunnion wheel and support adapted thereto.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side view partially in section of the upper endof the crutch.

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view of the assembled device. This view istaken on line 5--5 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 6 is a sectional end view of the lower end of the crutch andillustrates the adjustable connection disposed between the crutch andthe frame. This view is taken on line fi-J of Fig. 5, looking in thedirection indicated.

Fig. 7 is a sectional side view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 6.This view is taken on line 1-1 of Fig.6, looking in the directionindicated.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the severalviews.

I preferably form the base frame of my device from a single piece of anysuitable material, preferably light tubing. The frame is comprised of asingle piece embodying a central front member I, and parallelly disposedrearwardly extending legs 2 and 3. The legs 2 and I are formed integralwith the front member by providing right angular bends 4 and 5. Thisconstruction leaves the frameopen-ended at 6, to permit the user walkingor being moved directly thereinto or to facilitate the assembly beingmoved directly to the user while he is in a sitting or recliningposition. A trunnion wheel or caster support is disposed at each cornerof the frame, as illustrated at 'l, 8, 9 and I0. These trunnion wheelsare pref erably rubber tired as illustrated at H and are provided withanti-friction bearings relative to the frame to facilitate freedom andease of movement of the assembly. The arms of each of the trunnionwheels have an upwardly extending stem l2 and an annular ball receivingrace is disposed upon its upper periphery into which balls l3 areplaced. A thimble H is disposed about the stem and a companion annularball receiving race is disposed upon its underside into which the ballsii are positioned. The thimble is secured to the stem by any suitablemeans as through the use of a screw fastening IS. A sleeve I8 is adaptedto the frame l1 and is fixedly secured relative thereto.

A collar I8 is disposed with n the sleeve and a compressible element, asa coil spring I! is disposed between the thimble H and the sleeve It.The thimble has a shoulder disposed upon its outer surface and uponwhich rests one end of the coil spring IS. The oppositely disposed endof the coil spring engages the underside 2| of the collar l8. A desiredpreioading may be placed upon the spring I9 by the threading of a cap 22to the upper end of the thimble It. This adjusts the spring to thetensions required by the weight of the user of the device.

It may be desirable to place a brake upon one or more ofthe wheels. Whenso desired, a brake shoe 23 is placed in juxtaposition to the tire II.The brake shoe is secured to a bell crank 24 and the bell crank ishingedly secured about a brake shoe supporting pin 25. An actuating pullrod 26 is disposed longitudinally of the stem l2. One end of theactuating pull rod is secured to the bell crank as illustrated at 21, bythe placing of a ball 28 within the ball receiving recess disposed uponthe end of the bell crank 24. This actuating pull rod terminates in anactuating handlever 2| and permits the user of the device to apply abraking pressure to one or more 01 the trunnion wheels, as is required.

A pair of crutch members 30 and 3| extend upwardly from the frame.Handstirrups "and 33 are secured to the respective crutch members. Thestirrups are adapted for being moved longitudinallyof the crutch membersand are locked relative thereto in desired placement by threaded clamps34 and 36 respectively. Crutch saddles 36 and 31 are adapted to theupper ends of the crutch members. The crutch saddles are placed underthe arm pits of the user andare adjustable to the user's height by beingadapted for motion longitudinally of the crutch members, and are lockedrelative thereto by the clamping sleeves 38 and 39 respectively. Thisvertical adjustment of the stirrups 32 and 33 and of the crutch saddles38 and 31 adapts the crutch members to the arm pit height and to the armlength of the user. The transverse distance between the crutch saddlesmay be adjusted through the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 4, 6 and '7.Sleeves'lil and 4| are fixed to the rearwardly extending legs 2 and 3respectively.

Arms 42 and 43 each terminates in a quadrant head 44 upon its upper end.The upper, outer side walls 45 and 48 of the quadrant are uniformlytapered and an adjusting slot 41 is disposed within the head. A secondpair of sleeves 48 are rotatably disposed upon the rearwardly extendinglegs 2 and 3 and arms 49 extend upwardly from the sleeves 48. Heads 50terminate the upper ends of the arms 49. A fitted recess is disposed inthe under side of the head 50 into which the quadrant 44 is fitted. Thehead 50 is provided with a pilot and shoulder against which tubularcrutch member 51 is adapted to be fixed. The head 50 is provided with ahole, radial to the center line of rotation of the sleeve 48 and inregistry alignment longitudinally of the base frame with the slot 41 inthe quadrant 44, and threaded rod Ill is disposed therethrough,terminating in internally threaded member 52. A collar 53 is fixed tothe threaded rod Bi and is adapted to bear up on upper face 54 of thehead 50. A rod 55 is fixed to the. collar 53 and terminates at its upperend in a knurled hand grip 58 which crowns crutch member 51. The knurledhand grip 58 is free to rotate relative to the crutch member 51, but isrestrained from longitudinal motion relative thereto by any suitablemeans as by shoulder screws 58 engaging a groove 69 disposed within apiloted end of the knurled hand grip 58.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described isadmirablyadapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understoodthat it is not intended to confine the invention to the embodimentshown, but to cover all forms coming within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a U-shapedtrunnion supported tubular frame, a pair of sleeves disposed upon theopposite sides of the frame, arms upwardly extending from each of thesleeves and said arms adapted for cooperative engagement with saidsleeves, a pair of crutch members associated with and upwardly extendingfrom the arms and attachable relative thereto. a knurled hand gripterminating the upper end of each of the crutch members, a rod dependingfrom each of the knurled hand grips extending longitudinally of thecrutch members and passing through the ends of the respective pairs ofarms, each of said rods being threaded on its lower end and a nutsecured to the lower end-of each of the rods and cooperating means fortightening the crutch members to the arms when the knurled hand grip isturned in one direction and for loosening the same when it is turned inthe opposite direction, a crutch saddle rotatably mounted upon each ofthe crutch members and adjustable longitudinally of each of the crutchmembers, a hand stirrup disposed upon each of the crutch membersadjustable longitudinally thereoi', means for locking the crutch saddleand the hand stirrup in adjusted placement upon each of the crutchmembers, and a brake actuating hand lever associated with each of thehand stirrupsand means communicating the hand brake lever with a brakedisposed at one of the trunnion supporting wheels.

2. In a device oi the class described, the combination of a trunnionwheel supported tubular open ended frame, said frame having rearwardlyextending legs, supports for crutch members secured to each of the legsand rotatable therearound, crutch members upwardly extending from eachof .the crutch supports and lockable relative thereto, a crutch saddleand a hand stirrup disposed in spaced relationship upon the crutchmembers and rotatable therearound and each being acUustablelongitudinally thereof, means for locking the saddle support and thehand stirrups in adjusted placement relative to the crutch members and abrake actuating hand lever associated with each of the hand stirrups andcooperating means associated with the hand lever for applying brakingpressure to some of the trunnion supporting wheels.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a U-shapedopen ended tubular frame, a crutch having a crutch saddle and a handstirrup adjustably secured thereto disposed in registry alignment witheach other and disposed upon the U-shaped tubular frame, trunnion wheelssecured to the U-shaped tubular frame, each of the trunnion wheels beingsecured to and having upwardly extending stems. a thimble disposed aboutthe stem and adapted for longitudinal movement relative to the stem, acoil spring disposed about the thimble and resting upon its respectiveends upon shoulders disposed upon the stem and upon the sleeve and a capthreaded to the thimble to provide means for predetermining thecushioning of the coil spring.

THEODORE F. mBH.

